Fig Leaves for young redfoot?

tpence1991

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Are fig leaves ok for a young redfoot? My mother has a fig tree and I'm thinking of taking some leaves home for my ~ 6 month old redfoot, she assures that the tree hasn't been treated with anything. I've read elesewhere that they can eat fig leaves but I wanted to get y'alls opinion.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Are fig leaves ok for a young redfoot? My mother has a fig tree and I'm thinking of taking some leaves home for my ~ 6 month old redfoot, she assures that the tree hasn't been treated with anything. I've read elesewhere that they can eat fig leaves but I wanted to get y'alls opinion.
I've heard people say not to before I can't recall why but what I can tell you is I've fed them to my Redfoots many times. Just feed them sparingly as part of a varied diet and not everyday.
 

tpence1991

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I've heard people say not to before I can't recall why but what I can tell you is I've fed them to my Redfoots many times. Just feed them sparingly as part of a varied diet and not everyday.

Ok that's good to know. I need to pick up some food for her, but don't really have time to go to the store today. I'll be stopping by my moms house after work, so I was hoping to pick some leaves for the tortoise to eat tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the advice!
 

Toddrickfl1

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Ok that's good to know. I need to pick up some food for her, but don't really have time to go to the store today. I'll be stopping by my moms house after work, so I was hoping to pick some leaves for the tortoise to eat tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the advice!
What I can tell you is mine aren't too find of them. So don't be surprised if your tort doesn't eat them. They love the actual figs though.
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings... I have about 20 potted fig trees and a handful that are grown in the ground. So, lots of leaves, but I wouldn't feed them to our Sully. A fresh fig leaf has a very sticky latex sap that is pretty caustic. Some ppl are really impacted by the sap, getting nasty rashes.

Furocoumarins in sap of fig tree are the main cause of its irritability when come in contact with the skin. The main symptoms are burning sensation and pain, itchy erythema, and edema, which usually begin 24 h after exposure. The leaf and root sap of the fig tree are the most potent parts causing irritant reaction. Source - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340245/
upload_2019-9-30_17-30-8.png
 

tpence1991

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Greetings... I have about 20 potted fig trees and a handful that are grown in the ground. So, lots of leaves, but I wouldn't feed them to our Sully. A fresh fig leaf has a very sticky latex sap that is pretty caustic. Some ppl are really impacted by the sap, getting nasty rashes.

Furocoumarins in sap of fig tree are the main cause of its irritability when come in contact with the skin. The main symptoms are burning sensation and pain, itchy erythema, and edema, which usually begin 24 h after exposure. The leaf and root sap of the fig tree are the most potent parts causing irritant reaction. Source - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340245/
View attachment 281601

Huh, I've never herd of this. I'll probably avoid them if that's the case!
 

Bambam1989

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Thought I'd add my opinion. Yes the sap can be an irritation to some people's skin. But my tort (a sulcata) happily eats the occasional leaf when he gets the opportunity. I have seen no sign of irritation around his mouth/face, it hasn't had any affect on his appetite or bowl movements. He does prefer the younger leaves.
It seems like I read that they are in the same family as mulberry trees.
I think they should be fine as long as not fed in huge quantities all at once.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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I agree 100% with Bambam1989 statements. From my understanding there have been no known issues with Reptile’s in general, the sap has shown to be an irritant to some mammals. In that context I fed some leaves to my sulcata, not mixed or nothing, just dropped them in and yes they were eaten the first time and the second time and so on. I can’t say my sulcata runs for the leaves any more or any less.Y’all know, he’s a sulcata and it’s food and must be eaten. LOL
 

tpence1991

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Thought I'd add my opinion. Yes the sap can be an irritation to some people's skin. But my tort (a sulcata) happily eats the occasional leaf when he gets the opportunity. I have seen no sign of irritation around his mouth/face, it hasn't had any affect on his appetite or bowl movements. He does prefer the younger leaves.
It seems like I read that they are in the same family as mulberry trees.
I think they should be fine as long as not fed in huge quantities all at once.
Thanks! That's good to know. I'll probably snag some leaves today then
 

tpence1991

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I agree 100% with Bambam1989 statements. From my understanding there have been no known issues with Reptile’s in general, the sap has shown to be an irritant to some mammals. In that context I fed some leaves to my sulcata, not mixed or nothing, just dropped them in and yes they were eaten the first time and the second time and so on. I can’t say my sulcata runs for the leaves any more or any less.Y’all know, he’s a sulcata and it’s food and must be eaten. LOL
Thanks! That's good to know. I'll probably snag some leaves today then
 

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I have a fig tree in my YF yard and, while they LOVE the fruit, they show no interest in the leaves. I have a fig tree in my now leopard yard, used to be aldabran yard, and neither species has shown any interest in eating the leaves.
 

tpence1991

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I have a fig tree in my YF yard and, while they LOVE the fruit, they show no interest in the leaves. I have a fig tree in my now leopard yard, used to be aldabran yard, and neither species has shown any interest in eating the leaves.
Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to try. I certainly wouldn't be feeding her fig leaves all the time. My mother has one in her yard, unfortunately it hasn't grown any fruit yet though.

Maybe I'll pick up some figs this weekend and see how she likes them. I haven't tried giving her any yet.
 

Maro2Bear

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Yes...agreed. Just saying that the sap is quite caustic for (some) humans. An occasional leaf fed here and there while foraging seems ok. I wouldn't go and pick a ton of sappy(caustic) leaves and feed, especially if one has other feed available.

Let me go grab a leaf....and show you the money...or at least the sap. Who knows what the sap might do to a torts eye? Or to a tort thst ingests too much sap.?

Figs themselves are very high in sugar, so not good for Sulcata/grass grazers. Redfoot, probably OK!
 

tpence1991

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Yes...agreed. Just saying that the sap is quite caustic for (some) humans. An occasional leaf fed here and there while foraging seems ok. I wouldn't go and pick a ton of sappy(caustic) leaves and feed, especially if one has other feed available.

Let me go grab a leaf....and show you the money...or at least the sap. Who knows what the sap might do to a torts eye? Or to a tort thst ingests too much sap.?

Figs themselves are very high in sugar, so not good for Sulcata/grass grazers. Redfoot, probably OK!
Thanks for the advice!
 

Maro2Bear

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Ok, here is a fresh fig leaf that i just pulled from one of my Hardy Chicago fig trees. You can see the white sap that is there. It tastes nasty to me :). And is known to cause irritation to some ppl. So, i just don’t feed the leaves, especially when there are plenty of other things to feed.

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Cowboy_Ken

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Here is a copy/paste from the tortoise table that so many rely on;
Common Name: Fig Tree
Latin Name: Ficus carica and Ficus spp.
Family Name: Moraceae
Not classed as toxic but the sap is severely irritant to eyes and skin and the fruit is far too high in sugar so better to avoid.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Here is a copy/paste from the tortoise table that so many rely on;
Common Name: Fig Tree
Latin Name: Ficus carica and Ficus spp.
Family Name: Moraceae
Not classed as toxic but the sap is severely irritant to eyes and skin and the fruit is far too high in sugar so better to avoid.
We're talking Redfoot here. The sugary food exception to our hobby.
Safe as a treat food in this application.
 

Maro2Bear

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We're talking Redfoot here. The sugary food exception to our hobby.
Safe as a treat food in this application.

Yep. Agree again, but the OP initially asked about fig leaves, which have that caustic sap. The sugary fruit for sure is probably good for Redfoots! But who would share a nice, sugary, fruity tasting fig with their RedFoot? :). The last of my figs are about to be picked. Not sharing!
 

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Yep. Agree again, but the OP initially asked about fig leaves, which have that caustic sap. The sugary fruit for sure is probably good for Redfoots! But who would share a nice, sugary, fruity tasting fig with their RedFoot? :). The last of my figs are about to be picked. Not sharing!
As you may have noticed by now, I'm not real big on reading whole posts...
 

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